Benjamin B. Hitt (abt. 1786 - abt. 1850)

Born about 1786 in Laurens, South Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Anna Sophia (Vann) Hitt — married 26 Aug 1847 in Sumter, Alabama, United States

Died about 1850 at about age 64 in Sumter, Alabama, United States

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Biography

Census

1810 Laurens Co., South Carolina ^[1]
Benjamin Hitt, Jur 00100 -- 20010; no slaves
male female
<10 2
10-15
1 16-25
26-44 1
>45

He is 2 entries away from Robert Holensworth.

1820 Laurens Co., South Carolina ^[2]
Benjamin Hitt Jr 300110 --- 21010; 1 in agriculture, 2 in manufactures; 1 slave
male female
3 <10 2
10-16 1
16-18
1 16-26
1 26-45 1
>45

1830 Greene Co., Alabama ^[3]
Benjamin Hitt 10210001001 -- 120101; 1 slave
male female
1 < 5 1
5-10 2
2 10-15
1 15-20 1
20-30
30-40 1
40-50
1 50-60
60-70
70-80
1 80-90

He is in the sequence David Hitt, 3x, Benjamin Hitt, Marshall Hitt, 2x, Benj'n Williams. David is Benjamin's first cousin, and Benj'n Williams is David's son-in-law.

1840 Sumter Co., Alabama; pg 77 ^[4]
Benj'n Hitt 00010001 -- 0011001; 5 slaves
male female
< 5
5-10
10-15 1
1 15-20 1
20-30
30-40
40-50 1
1 50-60

He is in the sequence David Hill, Ephraim L. Banks, x, Marshall Hitt, x, Nancy Hitt, Drury Sims, 9x, John Altman, 4x, John Hitt, Laz Hitt, Aswell Hitt, Alford Hitt, Willis Ball, Moore Stephens, x, x, Henry Hitt, Benj'n Hitt, 6x, Richard Hitt.

The Hitts are David (1800-1880), Marshall (1802-1870/80), John (1790-1846), Lazarus (1814-1872), Oswell (1812-1877), Alfred (1819-1866), Henry H. (1812- ), Benjamin B. (1786-1850), and Richard (1812-1843).

1850 Sumter Co., Alabama, Woods Precinct Division; Jan 9; pg 677 ^[5]
1231/1261
Benjamin B. Hitt 64 M SC $400 Farmer
Sophia Hitt 47 F SC
Delila Bunyard 21 F Al
John B. Bunyard 13 M Al
Lucy A. Bunyard 11 F Al

In the Slave Schedule he is the owner of 4 slaves (black female, 52; black male, 40; black female, 14; black female, 11). Austin Hitt lives at 1233/1263.

Census Comparison

_____1810_______1820_______1830_______1840
male:
__________________________<5__(5)__15-20(15)____John J., b. 1825
_______________<10 (3)__10-15(13)_______________Benjamin M., b. 1817, m. 1838
_______________<10 (5)__10-15(15)_______________Richard, b. 1815, m. 1834
_______________<10 (8)__15-20(18)_______________Henry H., b. 1812, m. 1832
_____________16-26
__16-25(24)__26-45(34)__50-60(44)__50-60(54)____Benj. B., b. 1786
________________________80-90
female:
__________________________<5_______10-15________Amalia, m. 1845
_________________________5-10(8)___15-20(18)____Sarah D., b. 1822, m. 1841
_______________<10_______5-10___________________Kizia, m. 1839
_______________<10 (5)__15-20(15)_______________Mary Ann, b. 1815, m. 1834
____<10 (1)__10-16(11)__________________________Eve, b. 1809, m. 1824
____<10
__26-44(20)__26-45(30)__30-40(40)__40-50(50)____Milly, b. ?

The parenthsized numbers in previous columns represent real ages to be compared with the age categories that appear in the census. Milly's age is just a guess. The above chart is easier to read in a fixed-width font.

Land in South Carolina

On September 7, 1820 Benjamin Hitt of Laurens District sells to Henry Hitt of the same place for $750 a tract of 262 acres on the waters of Cain Creek bounded by the lands of Bluford Wells, Caldwell, John Hitt, Zinn Carter, and Benjamin Maulden. The deed is signed Benjamin Hitt, and the witnesses are Lazarus Hitt and Thomas Rusing. On October 5, 1820 Milly Hitt, wife of Benjamin Hitt, relinquishes her dower rights. There is a plat which represents a tract of 262 acres which is part of a tract of 362 acres surveyed by James Young June 13, 1816 for Benjamin Hitt, 100 acres of which "I have laid off to John Hitt". (Laurens Co. Deed Records K/306)

On October 2, 1823 Benjamin Hitt of Laurens District sells to Henry Hitt of the same place a tract of 104 acres more or less situated on the waters of Cain Creek and bounded by Lewis Ball, Thomas Salmon, Isaac Grant and Henry Hitt. The deed is signed Benjamin Hitt, and the witnesses are Lewis Ball and Andy Andrew. (L/139)

Land in Alabama

On July 17, 1826 Benjamin Hitt purchased 130.59 acres in S1 T21N R1W in Greene Co. from David Hitt (I/799). We know that this Benjamin Hitt is Benjamin B. rather than his first cousin Rev. Benjamin Hitt because his wife Milly is mentioned in the deed in which he sold the property in October 1838 (I/657). A nearby tract (E1/2NW S12 T21N R1W) was patented to Benjamin Hitt, Jr. on 9/1/1831 and was sold by Benjamin and Milly in 1838 (I/313). Another tract (W1/2NE S2 T21N R1W) was patented to Benjamin Hitt, Jr. on 5/30/1833. It was sold in August 1835 by John Hitt. The following 4 tracts were patented to Benjamin Hitt (or Hilt); since no record of their sale has been found, we do not know whether they were patented to Benjamin B. Hitt or to his cousin Rev. Benjamin Hitt. The first one was probably patented to Benjamin B. Hitt since Rev. Hitt and his wife Nancy were granted letters of dismissal from the Bethabara Baptist Church in Laurens Co., SC November 11, 1826.

E1/2NE section 36 T22N R1W 79.75 acres 4/16/1824 Greene Co.
W1/2NW section 11 T21N R1W 80.025 acres 5/30/1833 Greene Co.
SESE section 2 T21N R1W 39.00 acres 9/28/1835 Greene Co.
E1/2NE section 10 T21N R1W 80.03 acres 10/28/1835 Greene Co.

In January 1843 Benjamin B. Hitt purchased 200 acres in Sumter Co (SWSW S23 & NE S26 in T17N R3W, F/912). In September 1846 he gave a 6 1/2 acre tract in SWSW S23 to his daughter Sarah D. Daniel (K/60) and then in December 1848 he sold 80 acres out of NE S26 to her husband Samuel D. Daniel (K/636). See also K/724. When he died, he no longer owned the remainder of NE S26 and he owned other land. I did not find the corresponding transactions in the deed records.

Second Wife

On 26 Aug 1847 Benjamin B. Hitt married Sophia Bunyard in Sumter Co., Alabama. ^[6]

Benjamin B. Hitt to Sophia Bunyard; license issued 23 Aug 1847; executed 26 Aug 1847 by James Bevers, JP;
Parties to bond: Benj. B. Hitt, J. W. Thorne;
23 Aug 1847: Jesse W. Thorne swears that Benj. B. Hitt is over the age of 21 and that Sophia Bunyard is over the age of 18 to the best of his knowledge and belief.

Probate

Benjamin B. Hitt died intestate but his estate was probated. See Sumter Co., Alabama Orphans' Court Minutes Vol 6, pgs 604, 606, 607, 636, 651, 653; Vol 7, pgs 28, 69, 71, 261, 280, 291, 316, 317, 532, 617; Vol 8, pgs 316, 357.

Vol 6, pg 604; September 21, 1850:

Samuel D. Daniel is appointed administrator. He has given bond in the sum of $6000 with John W. Altman, Henry Altman, James Thorn, Matthias Hammonds and Henry H. Hitt securities. Matt Hammonds, Matt Hoore, Aba Greene, Lazarus Hitt and John S. Valentine are appointed to appraise the personal property of the deceased. The administrator is authorized to sell the personal property as the law directs and to sell the crop at private sale.

Vol 6, pg 606; October 10, 1850:

Estate of Benjamin B. Hitt deceased:

"This day came Sam'l D. Daniel administrator of said deceased and filed his petition to the Court to grant him an order to sell the following lands of which ___ intestate died seized and possessed to wit. The SW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 Sec 23 T 17 Range 3 West less 6 1/2 acres in the NE corner of said lot, The SE 1/4 of SW 1/4 of Sec 23 same T & R. The SW 1/4 of SE 1/4 of Sec 23 same T & R, & the W 1/2 of NW 1/4 of Sec 8 same T & R, all lying in Sumter County and in the Demopolis Land District, because as alleged the said lands cannot be equally fairly & beneficialy divided among the heirs of deceased. Whereupon the Court set the 4th Monday of November 1850 for final action & decree on said petition, and it is ordered that citations be issued to Henry H. Hitt, Jesse H. Sims in right of wife Mary & Benjamin M. Hitt to appear and answer and contest said petition if they think proper, and that for the same purpose notice be given to Jesse W. Thorn in right of wife Mary in the State of Louisiana Asa Hawthorn in right of wife Eva in said State of Louisiana & John I. Hitt of Louisiana, by three successive weekly publications in the "Sumter County Whig" a newspaper published in said county, and it is further ordered that William J. Jarman be and he is hereby appointed guardian ad litem to answer and defend said petition for the following minor heirs of deceased to wit. Moore Hitt, Charles Hitt & Lewis C. W. Hitt Napoleon Hammond, Louisa Dorland & John Dorland"

Vol 7, pg 69; April Term 1851:

Samuel D. Daniel reports the sale of the land. He purchased the 33 1/2 acre tract for $2.10 per acre or $70.35 total. Two other buyers bought the other tracts paying $152 in total.

Vol 7, pgs 316 & 317; April 3, 1852:

Samuel D. Daniel resigns and John W. Altman is appointed administrator of the estate of Benjamin B. Hitt, deceased. He has given bond in the sum of $5000 with Matthias Hammond and Henry Altman securities. The balance in the account is given to John W. Altman. B. N. B. Hammond is appointed as the guardian ad litem of the minor heirs. They are listed as "Moore Hitt, Charles Hitt, Lewis C. W. Hitt, Napoleon Hammond, and children of Louisa Dorland (names not known)".

Vol 7, pg 617; September 12, 1853:

Partial settlement. The court approves the distribution of $2390.43 to the previously listed heirs and to Sophia Hitt. She receives $433.61 and most of the others receive $217.43. $217.43 is $2390.43 - $433.61 divided by 9, although only 8 distributees are listed. Moore Stephens, the guardian of the minor children of Richard Hitt reports that Lewis Hitt died in infancy leaving no debts and no heirs.

Vol 8, pgs 357-59; March 24, 1855:

Final settlement. The court approves the distribution of $1106.68 to Sophia Hitt and to the previously listed heirs. Sophia gets $221.33 and the rest get $110.67. $110.67 is $1106.68 - $221.33 divided by 8. $36.89 is paid to Jesse Sims and $73.78 to Moore Stephens for Moore and Charles Hitt. $110.67 is paid to Louisa and John Dorland.

A complication in the case of both settlements is the fact that it appears that some distributees had received advance payments and hence got less at settlement time. It appears that Asa Hawthorn borrowed money from the estate. See notes under Sarah D. Hitt.

Earl J. Hitt

The following is copied from the no longer existent database of Earl J. Hitt in WorldConnect:

In 1823, Benjamin sold the land he owned in South Carolina to his brother, Henry, and moved his family to Greene County, Alabama.
Birth: 15 AUG 1786 in Laurens County, South Carolina Death: 11 SEP 1850 in Sumter County, Alabama Note: (Date of death could be 17 Sep 1850)

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1810", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2Y-9KJ : Fri Mar 08 01:45:40 UTC 2024), Entry for Benjamin Hitt, 1810.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1820", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHG6-CFX : Sun Mar 10 07:34:08 UTC 2024), Entry for Benjamin Hill, 1820.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1830", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHPL-8LT : Sat Mar 09 22:52:16 UTC 2024), Entry for Benjamin Hitt, 1830.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1840", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHB4-1KG : Fri Mar 08 08:15:29 UTC 2024), Entry for Benjn Hitt, 1840.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1850", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH54-RT2 : Fri Mar 08 05:38:14 UTC 2024), Entry for Benjamin B Hitt and Sophia Hitt, 1850.
6. ↑ "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG17-W45X : 19 February 2021), Benjamin B Hitt and Sophia Bunyard, 26 Aug 1847; citing Sumter, Alabama, United States, County Probate Courts, Alabama; FHL microfilm

• Sumter Co., Alabama Orphan's Court Minutes